The $200,000 project, excluding funds associated with collection costs, will serve as the school's library of records beginning late fall.

The school, which faces the Central Library across Navarro Street, is projected to start its Bachelor of Fine Arts program in late 2014.

“This will be one of the finest collections of art resources in the region,” said Paula Owen, school president and CEO.

The new, 4,500-square-foot section on the second floor of the Central Library will hold print and nonprint materials, art databases and periodicals, accessible to Southwest School of Art students and the public.

Southwest School of Art is contributing $200,000 in capital improvements, which covers the creation of the art center. It will add about $50,000 in collection materials, such as books, journals and databases.

Before the art center debuts, the Connect Center, an expansion of the library's computer lab, tentatively is set to open Aug. 13.

The 12,000-square-foot space replaces about 25 outdated computers and some shelving with 75 new desktops and additional laptops and tablets.